FLYING FOX VIRUS ALERT:When a wild flying fox is reported by a member of
the general public, precautions should be taken in case of possible Lyssavirus
infection. This virus is as lethal as Rabies and medical attention must
be sought if anyone is bitten or scratched by a flying fox. Care should
also be taken when handling flying foxes that may have bat paramyxovirus
(EMV or BPV).

A. When a member of the general public
finds a flying fox or bat that is behaving strangely:

1. Keep a good distance from a flying fox, which appears
to be unusually tame and hanging low, especially in daylight hours.
If the bat does not leave, contact a rabies vaccinated bat handler,
ideally a vaccinated veterinarian or experienced vaccinated bat treater
to catch the bat. They should use thick bath towels, protective gloves
(ideally welding or butchers gloves), face mask, safety hat and wear
thick clothing. Cage the bat in isolation and feed for one week, taking
care not to be bitten or scratched. Note any signs of illness, especially
neurological symptoms, such as savage biting. Animals which die or develop
suspect symptoms should be taken to an Australian Department of Primary
Industries (DPI) office or veterinarian for euthanasia and testing for
lyssavirus.

2. If the bat cannot be captured but continues to hang
around, get a rabies vaccinated person to hang out a bucket of food
in case it is simply hungry. Keep a safe distance from the bat at all
times and depart quickly.

3. If anyone has been bitten or scratched by a bat, they
should immediately wash the bite gently with soap and water for 5 minutes
and then seek medical attention, at a hospital. They will require the
rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin injections. This is particularly urgent,
if the bat flew away or subsequently died with neurological symptoms
or was euthanased and found to have lyssavirus. Ideally, all bats which
bite a human should be kept for a week to check for development of lyssavirus
symptoms.
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B. Colony searchers and bat rescuers

4. Only rabies vaccinated people should enter a flying
fox colony. Extreme care should be taken not to be bitten or scratched
by sick flying foxes.

5. Thick clothing, boots, safety hats and welding or
butchers gloves must be worn when handling the flying foxes. The bats
should be wrapped in thick bath towels and placed in a basket or cage.

6. Animals with neurological symptoms, especially savage
biting behaviour should be taken to a veterinarian, euthanased and tested
for lyssavirus as in 1. above.

7. Soap will be left in the colony beside the creek for
washing of bite wounds.
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8. Pregnant or recently birthed flying foxes and their
young offspring may carry live bat paramyxovirus and should be handled
in a hygienic fashion, avoiding any skin contact with body fluids, such
as birthing fluids, blood, urine or saliva. If you find an aborted or
dropped baby flying fox, wrap it in a thick cloth, avoiding skin contact
or contact with any body fluids. Wash you hands with soap and water
after handling the bat or any of its body fluids. Baby bats will be
washed, fed and observed at the bat hospital for a week before being
fostered out to a rabies vaccinated carers.
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D. Bats on barbed wire.

9. Only rabies vaccinated people should remove bats from
barbed wire.

10. All bats must be treated as possible lyssavirus cases
and handled using welding gloves and thick bath towels. The same observational
procedures should be adopted as in 1. above. The precautions with BPV
should also be observed for pregnant or recently birthed flying foxes.

12. All fresh dead bats should be deep frozen in plastic
bags, labelled as per date, location, cause of death and behaviour prior
to death and sent to Hume Field at the DPI (in Far North Queensland)
for testing.
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E. Precautions when fostering
baby flying foxes.

13. Only vaccinated people will be allowed to foster
baby flying foxes. The babies will be kept at the bat hospital for a
week for observation of any lyssavirus symptoms. This period of time
should see them through most of the bat paramyxovirus incubation period
as well.

Information provided by Ann Johnson
Friends of the Far North Flying Foxes